One in four parents to face a first aid emergency

81% of parents in the UK don’t have the knowledge required to administer basic first aid to a baby or a child although one in four will have to deal with an emergency first aid situation.

New research* by Tesco Baby & Toddler Club also reveals that 72% of parents wouldn’t feel confident in administering first aid. 60% would worry they would do something wrong, 54% would panic and 47% fear they would cause more harm.

The survey marks the launch of the fifth Tesco Baby & Toddler Club BabySafe campaign – an initiative to offer free, basic first aid training to parents, grandparents and carers. To reach as many parents as possible, this year’s sessions will be run exclusively online via a series of short videos, Twitter chats and webinar. Experts from the British Red Cross will teach invaluable lifesaving skills to help deal with bumps to the head, falls, meningitis, burns, choking and what to do if a child is unconscious.

Lorna Dickinson, Tesco Senior Buying Manager for Baby & Manager of Baby & Toddler Club, explains: “Emergency first aid training is something that everyone who takes care of a baby or child should know about as it could mean saving a baby’s life.

“We know from our research that lack of time and costs are the key reasons for mums-to-be and new parents to not attend a first aid course. Over a third of parents also look online for first aid advice. By launching our BabySafe videos and webinar, we are making first aid free and accessible by bringing it directly into their home.”

Joe Mulligan, head of first aid education at the British Red Cross, adds: “Everyone knows that first aid is important, but many parents don’t want to think that their child will be involved in an emergency situation. However, it’s inevitable that a parent or carer would be the first person there if an accident occurs so it’s paramount that they have the knowledge and confidence required to administer first aid. This is why making training more accessible is essential.“We are delighted to work again with Tesco to make it easy for every parent to learn or refresh their first aid skills.”

The first Tesco Baby & Toddler Club Babysafe video will be available from Monday 22 August on the Tesco Baby Care & Share website: www.tesco-baby.com. It will focus on prevention in the home and how to deal with bumps to the head and falls. The other videos include:• Webinar 3 October 2011• Burns 31 October 2011• Meningitis 21 November 2011• Choking 9 January 2012• Unconsciousness 20 February 2012(breathing / not breathing)

Following the launch of each video, an expert from the British Red Cross will be available to answer all questions during a Twitter chat on @TescoBabyClub.

ENDS

* Research carried out in July 2011 amongst 2,213 parents who are members of the Tesco Baby & Toddler Club

For more information about the campaign or to interview Lorna Dickinson, Tesco Senior Buying Manager for Baby & Manager of Baby & Toddler Club, Joe Mulligan, first aid expert at the British Red Cross or a parent who have used lifesaving skills on their child, please contact:

Notes to editors The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.

We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives. For more information visit www.redcross.org.uk

Red Cross Training is a leading provider of first aid training for the workplace and for the general public. We have over 27 years experience in providing practical and interactive tuition in first aid skills. Our training and customer service is accredited under ISO 9001. For more information visit redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk.